Improvement in flexible valves



F. KAHL. FLEXIBLE VALVE.

Patented Jan. 4,1875.V

N,FETERS, PHOTO-LITHOGRFHER, WASHXNGTON. D C.

UNITED STATE-s FRANKVKAHL, on RICHMOND, VIRGINIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN FLEXIBSLE VALVES..y I

Specitcation forming part of Letters Patent No.l 171,817, dated anuary 4, `D376; application tiled I l -November 15,1875.

To all whom it may concern: Y

-Be it known that I, FRANK KARL, of' the city ot' Richmond, in the county of Henrico and State ot" Virginia, have invented certain new and uset'ul Improvements in Valves, ot' which the following is a specification:

My invention relates to'that class of valves particularly applicable tothe pumping of semiliquids, or liquids in which solid substances are encountered, such as wood, ashes, stones, Svc.,

' ordinarily found in privy-vaults, cesspools,&c.,

or solid substances found in the bilge-water ot' vessels, t-hough the valve is applicable to general use as a check or stop valve; and consists in a iiexible casing 4so arranged that a portion ot' it forms iiaps or lips at the eduction-port of the valve of comparatively contracted-.superiicial areasad aps, or lips to close and guard said port by bringing into closecontact one ot' the't'aces of said casing, with its coinciding i'ace, by reason ot' its angle -ot' inclination, this action being aided by a hinged weighted cover; land the invention further consists in a metallic seat composed of-'two metallic casings, or ot' two casings made of any other suitable material, said casings forming between them afspace for the insertion ofthe iiexible casing, these metallic or other4 casings being so constructed that when the valve is closed thefaces ofthe iieXible casing shall lie'in a plane oblique to the plane of the seat, and form, when thervalve is open, a smooth and unobstructed passage of practically the same diameter throughout, the greater portion of which is lined with metal, thereby reducing the frictional contact of the matter passing through, the valve, with the walls thereof, as well as reducing thewear of the iiexible casing to a minimum; but,

That my invention may be fully understood, I will proceed to describe the same in detail by aid of the accompanying drawings, in Which.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a valve constructed according to my invention. Figs.

2 and 3 are longitudinal and transverse, sec-y tions through lines m x and y y of Fig. l; and Fig. 4 is a perspective view ot' theexible casing.

The valve belongs to that class having a hinged weighted cover, and consists of a seat,

A, formed or composed of two metallic casings,*v a a', one within the other, and so connected f as to form between them an apertureor trough for the reception ot the liexible casing D. The induction-port ofv the seat is formed square, but maybe of tubular shape,- if preferred, though in practice, and't'or theparticular purposes to Whichthe valve is adapted,y

I prefer to adopt the square fornn'as. shown.'-

The sides of the seat are inclinedatanangle f oblique to the plane of theA tluidpassage, or horizontal portion of the seat, which is extended or projected' some distance beyondthe base:

ofthe incline.y The bed-plate of the innermetallic casingis shorter than that `of f the outer i one, and the latter has no top plate at the induction or square/end, so that the exiblel casinto thejtrough formed by the two casings of such seat. It may be made of canvas, leather, or rubber, or any other iiexible material,ei ther tubular or pressed into shape, the latter of which I Vprefer,'and the materialv I havefound best for the purpose is rubber. form of this casing 4is tullyillustratedKbyFig. 4 of thev drawings. Thisiiexible casingis inserted'in kthe trough formed bythe ltwo metallic casings-of theseat,and clamped in posi-l tion, as described. It is `furthersecured by.- riveting it or otherwise securing it to the inner shorter and outer longer horizontal floors of the seat, thereby reducing the frictional contact ot the substances passing through the valve, with its Walls and those ot' the eXible casing, and consequently red uein g the wear ot the Valve to its minimum." The outer end of the seat, from` the base ofthe incline, is slightly curved upward, so that the inclined face of the exible casing shall come in contact with its coincident face in a plane not at right angles to the plane of the valve-opening. By this means the area of contact is reduced to an 11m"nlwrA Thev extent just sufficient to form a tight joint between the faces, or between them and any` when the valve is closed, owing to their elasticity or flexibility, will readily adapt them! selves to `the configuration of any solid `substanceof such `aflength as not to havebeeu passed through the valve by the lifting stroke of -the pump, and form a close contact around such substance, and thus enable the `valve to perform its functions. B is the weighted hingedcover, riveted, or otherwise secured, to

the free or inclined face of the flexible casing.`

This cover extends ,from a point at the upper edge ofthe incline of the seat (which ,pointy it overlaps slightly in the direction of the inl duction-port) to the lower edge of the incline, and is gradually increased `in thickness toward that point, from whence it is slightly curved upward to coincide with the form of f the seat, and terminateswithin a short` distance of such seat, which extremity is also its thickest or heaviest portion.` This cover aids in bringing iiheinclined face of the flexiblecasing into valve contact-with the coincident face of said casing at the lipor Hap portion thereof, over an area just 'sucient to effectually` close the valve, and cause the lips `to closearound any solid substance that may not` have had time'zto pass through the valve. The bearing of the weighted metallic hinged cover y upon the seat of the valves is notessential to `bring the coincident faces of the flexible casing into valve contact, as this contact is formed at the flap or lip end of the valve, by reason of the angle of inclination of the sides of the seat, and that of the flexible casf ing, in relation to the plane of the valve-passage.

It is evident, therefore, `that should any solidsubstance remain inl the valve at the point of contact ot' the lips or flaps of the flexible casing, such lips lor aps, owing, to their flexibility or elasticity., will effectually close around such substance, by adapting themselves to` the shape of it,.and thus form a valve joint. The passage throughout the yvalve being' smooth and unobstructed,wand

practically ofthe same diameter throughout,

it is an impossibility for any sucusolid substance to become lodged orwedged therein,

and choke the valve or prevent it from closing perfectly.

The cover also serves the lfpurpose o f protecting the outer face ofthe flexible casing,

and preventingthe same from being forced p into the valve-openingby the pressure.

Having now described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure `by Letters Pat-` ent,is`` 1. In a valve, the flexible casing,havingits roof inclined oblique to its base to close and guard the valve-port, and so arranged as to form rflaps or lips -of contracted superficial` arca, the coincident faces of which shall engage in close contact at; their `outer extremi# ties only, substantially as and for the purposes specified. i i i 2. In avalve, the combination with the seat, constructed substantially ,as described, of a flexible casing, forming flaps or lips, so ar` ranged that the coincident faces thereof, shall engage in `close contact at au angle oblique to` y i the planeof theinduction-port, whereby saidl contact 4is effected at the 1 outer extremities only, of `'such flaps or lips, and over a mini-` mum superficial area, substantially as audfor the purposes set forth. y i y 3. Avalve', consistiugof ja double metallic seat, forming aicasing, and having its sids inclined for the purpose iysetvvforth, in` combiy nation withthe exblecasing, when arranged to operate as `and for the` purposes described.`

4. The combination of a weightedV cover,

constructed substantiallymas specilied, with the flexible casing so arrangedas to `form i valve flaps or lips of comparatively contracted superficial area, substantially asland for the purposes specified. i y. y y Y. 5. The combination of a `double `metallic seat, with a ilexible,casingandavveighted` metallic cover, substantially asfand for the` purposes described. y

In witness that I claim theforegoing I have hereunto set my hand this lthlday of November, 1875.'

'y NFBANKKAHL. y

Witnesses: l l j Y HENRI GUILLAUME, `IEIENmf ORTH. i y 

